MEP plea for text alert

MOBILE phones should flash up warning messages about the cost of calls made or received while abroad, a Euro-MP says. Giles Chichester said many mobile users are unaware of the high cost of using mobiles on holiday.

MOBILE phones should flash up warning messages about the cost of calls made or received while abroad, a Euro-MP says.

Giles Chichester said many mobile users are unaware of the high cost of using mobiles on holiday. What seemed to be a welcome `have a good holiday' message from a friend could turn into a nasty surprise when the bill arrives.

MEPs are voting on European Commission plans to cap the cost of phoning home on a mobile. The plan would also cut the costs of receiving calls on a mobile while elsewhere in the EU, a current mark-up of up to 400 per cent.

Mr Chichester welcomed EU-wide regulation of mobile charges, but said consumers should also be more immediately made aware of what they are about to spend.

His amendment, tabled in Brussels, says mobile screens should display the cost as soon as the call is attempted. And text messages should flash up before British holidaymakers answer an incoming call.

Mr Chichester said: "This is about protecting constituents from excessive charges. The ability to make and receive calls while abroad is a great bonus today, but the high cost is not."

A four-minute call from France to the UK on a UK-based mobile can cost more than £3, from Spain closer to £4 and from Malta almost £5. In all three countries it can cost £3.50 to receive the same length call from the UK on a UK-based mobile.

Roaming charges provide mobile phone companies with up to 20 per cent of their income, but operators have voluntarily cut charges recently in the wake of Commission threats of legislation.

EU Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding said binding rules on call charges are needed to close the gap even further and remove one of the last obstacles to free circulation for businesses and consumers in Europe's internal market.

She wants laws to control both wholesale charges - those charged between operators for mobile phone services - and retail price to mobile users.

The full Parliament in Strasbourg will vote on the plans next month, but the final say rests with EU ministers, who are split over imposing absolute price limits on operators.

UK Industry Secretary Margaret Hodge said lower prices are needed.

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